More than 200 people protest Public Health stay-at-home orders May 1, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Ventura County Government Center. Standing in the Victoria Avenue median were healthcare workers in scrubs and masks, standing in opposition to the protesters who were violating Public Health orders.

More than 200 people protested Public Health stay-at-home orders outside the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura on May 1, from about noon to 2 p.m.

As people waved U.S. flags and honked horns, several healthcare workers, wearing scrubs and masks, lined up along the Victoria Avenue median, spaced several feet apart, with their arms crossed, facing the protesters.

While the protests were happening, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said during the county COVID-19 videotaped update that it is "disappointing to see such a flagrant disregard for health orders today." He said sheriff's deputies and police officers are monitoring the situation.

Watch the Ventura County government update on COVID-19 update on May 1 at:

There was also a fatal accident today at Deer Creek and Pacific Coast Highway, Ayub said, advising drivers to take extra care as people are distracted looking for places to park, which they are not allowed to do. He said parking on Pacific Coast Highway is not allowed.

Dr. Fankhauser, chief executive officer of Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital, said, "It is imperative that we stay the course. ... We are not done with this threat. Please be mindful of others."

He asked people to "ignore rhetoric." He said there is "so much pseudo science. It is important for us to realize this threat is real."

County CEO Mike Powers said that the county of Ventura will be expanding testing sites in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard and other sites in the county.

Starting Monday, the county will begin to increase COVID-19 testing from 1,500 tests a week to more than 4,000. Also, the county will continue to ramp up the number of tests.

He said the Board of Supervisors will be asked to add 15 staff members to do community tracing.

In addition, he said the county is engaging with local businesses even more than it has already because local business people are going to know best how to comply with social distancing.